Karim, Sarder Fazlul
Karim, Sarder Fazlue (1925-2014) National Professor. Distinguished Philosopher, educationist, literature and essayist of Bangladesh. He was born into a farmer’s family on 1 May 1925 at the Atipara village of Barisal. Father Khabir Uddin was a farmer and mother Safura Begum was a housewife. Sarder Karim had five brothers and sisters. He spent his childhood in the village. During his study at class IX, his friend Mozammel Haq gave him a book ‘Pather Dabi’ to complete it in one night. Reading of this book imbibed him with revolutionary spirit. He underwent imprisonment, participated in the protest and went for hunger strike against the atrocities of ruler.
In 1940, he passed Matriculation from Barisal Zila School. He then came to Dhaka. He secured the second position in the merit list of Intermediate examination under the Dhaka Board. In 1942, he was enrolled in the Department of Philosophy of Dhaka University. He stood first in first class in BA honours examination. In MA examination too he stood first in first class. Later on, he started teaching in this Department. But in order to carry on his work as a political activist, he resigned from university teaching in 1948.
As punishment for his association with left movement, the government put his behind the bars and he spent 11-years in jail. In 1954, he was elected to the Provincial Legislative Assembly on the ticket of United Front. In 1955, he became the Member of the Pakistan Constituent Assembly. Sarder Fazlul Karim along with other prisoners had also participated in the hunger strike continued for 58 days at a stretch. From the prison, he was elected member of the Pakistan Constituent Assembly. Sarder Fazlul Karim had been serving at the Bangla Academy as head the department of translation and culture during 1962-1971 (till 7 September). After independence, in 1972, he joined the Department of Political Science, University of Dhaka as an Assistant Professor. He held the post of Associate Professor in the same Department at the time of his retirement.
Sarder Fazlul Karim has been the author of many books. His book ‘Dorshon Kosh’ testifies his in-depth scholarship about philosophy. His works included ‘Rumir Amma’, ‘Chollish Doshoker Dhaka’, ‘Dhaka Biswabidlyala and Purbongiya Samaj’ and ‘Shei She Kal’ etc. He made immense contributions to the translation literature. Through the relentless translation work over a period of 30 years, he introduced the creative works of European thinkers such as Plato, Aristotle, Rousseau and Engles to the Bengali leadership. Sarder Fazlul Karim played significant role in introducing the Greek philosophy to the educated Bengalis. Of his translated books, ‘Plator Shanglap’, ‘Plator Republic’, ‘Aristotle’s Politics’, ‘Engels’ Anti Duhring’, ‘Rousseau’s Social Contract’ are to name a few.
He was married to Sultana Razia on 4 February 1957. They have one daughter and two sons. For his contribution to the education sector, in 2000, he was awarded ‘Swadhinata Puraskar’ [Independence Award]. He died in Dhaka on 15 June 2014. [Sabbir Ahmed]
